Folding landing net



Dec. 25, 1951 F, A MATTHEWS 2,579,748

FOLDING LANDING NET Filed Aug. 24, 1946 6 ,47 ,er f4 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 25, A1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FDLDING LANDING NET Fredrick A. Matthews, Van Nuys, Calif.

Application August 24, 1946, Serial No. 692,804

Claims.

This' invention relates to fishermans landing nets. It relates particularly to a folding type of landing net and has as its general object to provide a landing net in combination with a holster in which the landing net is normally carried, and from which the net may be quickly removed when its use is required.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a folding landing net which, when removed from its holster will automatically open to a fully spread position, ready for immediate use. While automatically opening collapsible landing nets have been previously proposed, such prior proposals usually require the manual manipulation of a latching device, and that the handle of the net be given a swinging impulse to eiiect the opening thereof. With two stages of manual manipulation thus required, there is a definite element of delay in opening the net. In contrast to this, my invention contemplates the opening of the net by a single continuous movement in whipping the net out of the holster. In achieving this result, I provide a net frame having a pair oi resilient arms which are rigidly mounted in a handle and are preformed in a spread relation toward which they are constantly biased, by their inherent resiliency, while confined in the holster.

I nd that best results are secured by employing a pair of spring arms which function initially (upon withdrawal from the holster) to spread the frame and then function to maintain the frame in the spread condition. I find that the successful accomplishment of this result depends upon a proper balance between the degree of force with which the resilient arms are Vbiased away from each other when in the folded condition, and the degree of force with which the resilient arms are biased toward each other as the frame passes the dead center position during the spreading movement. The optimum condition that is aimed at is a maximum closing bias in the fully opened frame, -which in turn provides maximum stability of the frame in the open position. In this connection, the invention aims to avoid the necessity for any type of latching or locking device for securing the frame in the open position, depending solely upon the closing bias of the resilient arms of the frame. One of the prior proposals for a folding net frame requires that the outer frame members be forced outwardly beyond the resilient arm members, and, in addition, considers it necessary to employ latching devices for locking the frame in the open position, to order to avoid unwanted collapse of the frame.

The use of such latching devices not only coinplicates the mechanism but also requires undesirable manual manipulation.

Having provided a suitable balance between opening and closing bias so as to provide maximum form retaining characteristics in the open position, my invention incorporates a further feature which is essential to the automatic opening. This feature involves the instantaneous release of the extremities of the resilient side arms for complete freedom of spreading movement. I attain such instantaneous and complete release by the employment of a separate holster as the means for connning the net frame in its folded condition with the handle of the irame projecting outwardly of the holster. With this arrangement, the extremities of the resilient arms are the last, rather than the rst parts of the frame to be withdrawn from the holster, and-accordingly the frame continues to be confined in its fully folded condition until the release of these extremities from the holster. Upon such release, therefore, the arms are suddenly freed, throughout their entire length, for unconi'lned spreading movement, and the full amount of kinetic energy stored within the arms brings about the movement of the arms at such velocity that the momentum of said arms is sucient to swing the frame past the dead center position against the resistance of the maximum closing bias which thereafter becomes effective to provide form retention in the open position.

So far as I am aware, my invention is the first to contemplate this arrangement oi foldingfnet and holster to make possible the optimum ratio between opening and closing bias.

While it is possible to utilize the resiliency in vthe spring arms of the frame as the sole means for controlling net opening, I find that improved results can be obtained by providing spring means in the lateral hinges joining the spring arms to the outer arms of the frame, which spring means functions to give an additional opening and antirebound bias to the frame. Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a folding landing net in which the frame thereof incorporates a combination of resiliency in the inner arms and resiliency in the lateral hinges to provide a balancing of opening and closing bias which yields optimum stability in the open position combined with automatic opening from the folded position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a folding landing net in which the frame thereof incorporates stop means for limiting movement of the frame beyond the full open position, which stop means is incorporated in the outer central hinge, eliminating the need for limiting means at the lateral hinges.

A'further object is to utilize aV stop means which has the further function of cooperating with the inward bias of the side hinges to establish tension throughout the frame, taking out looseness and -providing stability in the open frame.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a folding landing net in which the frame thereof incorporates side hinge fittings which are so constructed and arranged with reference` to the inner arms of the frame as to protect the net itself against being out by contact withv the holster and to provide smooth sliding of. the, folded net frame in the holster.

Another object of the invention is to provide Va folding landing net holster having means for fastening. the, same. to then leg of. a sherman in suchl a manner as to permit the holster to swing freely. In connection with this object the invention contemplates the provision of a holster mounting bracket having means for anchoringthe same tothe wearers leg so as to be either of flat ribbon form as shown in the drawings, or of round Wire form. Arms I4, in the open position of the net, diverge away from the handle 8 and are joined to shaft members I3 by a pair of connecting portions I5 which, in the unstressed condition of the frame, are curved.

The parallel shaft members I 3 extend into the handle 8 and are joined by a loop I6. The loop and the adjacent portions I3 oi the arms 9 being embedded in the handle 8, the frame is securely and permanently anchored in the handle with no possibility of the arms 9 pulling out of/y the handle. A preferred mode of arriving at this construction is to mold the shaft members I3 and loop I6 into the handle 8, which securely hold the bracket in a fixed position Y with reference to the personfs body.

Another object of the. invention is to provide a folding landing net embodying a frame of relatively simple,l inexpensive and yet durable constructiom and, in whichthe inner arms of the frame areranchored with maximum permanency in the handle, of the4 net.

Other objects will becomeapparent in the ensuing s'peciication and, appended drawings in which:

Fig. l is` a lplan View of a net incorporating my inyention, shownA in full lines inr the fully open position and in broken lines in anv intermediate positionl of the opening movement;

Fig. 2 is a side view bfv the'rrame portion of the net;

Fig. 3 is airont view of aportionof the body of a, fisherman withmy. improved holsteredv net attached thereto;

Fig. 4 is av view looking at the inner side` of the holster, with the foldedl net therein, indicated in dotted lines;V

Fig. 5 is a side view ofoneof the lateralhinges of the net frame;

Fig. 6 is a plan view ofY the. hingeshown in Fig. 5 ;V

Fig. '7v is a view of the handle portion of a landing net embodying a Inodied form of my invention including meansfor adjusting the tension in the spring arms;v

Fig. 8 is aV detail vieW, of, theend hinge; 0I the net frame.

As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, I. have shown in the drawings a folding landing net having a handle a, an articulated frame 9 comprising a first pair of arms I4 and a second pair of arms I0,.a.net II strung upon the frame, and a holster I2 in which the net isrnormally carried andv conned in a collapsed condition. Theholster I2 Afuncttions not only as a support for carrying the net attached to the iishermans 'body Whilenot in use, but also is useulin guarding thonet against snagging on brush andweeds.

Arms I4 constitute integral extensionsof. parallel shaft members I3, which join them to handle 8.

The arms I4 are ofspring materal,1and;may

may be of a molded plastic material.

The arms I may or may not be of spring material. However, the proper functioning of the net depends upon, the preservation of the original shape of the arms; I (whether it be perfectly straight or slightly bent) and it is therefore important that the arms be of suffi.- ciently rigid` shape retaining material to avoid accidental` bending, and the best material for this purpose is the hardened spring material of the arms I4.

The arms I0 are joined to the arms I 4 by lateral hingesk I'I, and to each other by a central, outer hinge I8. Each of the hinges I'I is of a bulbous type, providing a periphery which projects outwardly beyond the area embraced by the, corresponidingY armsV I4. As indicated in Fig. 4, in the holsteredl condition of the net, these bulbous hinges provide the sole bearing engagement between the frameY and the holster, placing the frame arms I4 away from the Wall ofthe holster sufciently to prevent any rubbing contact between the net loops I9 (by means of which the net isstrung upon the arms 9) and the wall oi the holster. This isV important, since it avoids the extreme wear that would be occasioned by any engagement of the loops I9 under spring pressure between the-arms I4-and the holster Wall. Bearing engagement between the hinges Il and the holster Wall is maintained throughout the withdrawal of the net from the holster, thus providing for smooth and easy withdrawal ofthe'net from the holster.

Each hinge I'Iv (Fig. 6) comprises a pair. of fittings 2li-and 2 I ofarcuate shape having side-Wings 22, 2'3 respectively, embraced one within the other, and having shank portions 24,l 25, suitably secured to the respective arms I, I4. In order to minimize projectionsthat might catch against the net, the shank portions 24, 25 are preferably' Y Valuminum tubing flattened so that the Width of theholster (as viewed in Fig, 4) is greater than the thickness of the holster (as vviewed in Fig. 3)'. At the upper .end of the holster is abelled mouth 29 which permitsn the hinges I'Ito slip` out ofthe holster freely, and with-minimum. wear thereon; andI Afacilitatesireinsertion ofthe net.y

The holster inludesaatvvv mountingy bracket 30 having va raised central portion 3l embossed therein and a post 32 mounted in said raised central portion 3| The post 32 is extended through an opening 33 in the inner wall of the holster casing 28, and its inner end is headed so as to secure the casing 28 to the bracket 30 with the wall of the casing bearing against the raised portion 3I of the bracket.

The bracket 30 has an extension 34 which is provided with openings 35 through which a strap 36 may be passed. The body of the bracket 30 is provided with slots 31 through which is passed a strap 38 (preferably the belt of the person wearing the holster). It may now be noted that with the belt 38 strapped around the waist of a person (indicated at 39 in Fig. 3) and with the strap 36 passed downwardly around the leg, that the bracket 30 will be firmly supported and held in a position in which its longitudinal axis is securely fixed. With the bracket 30 thus fixed, the casing 2B of the holster may freely swing upon the pivot 32. Conversely, the pivot between the holster and the bracket permits the bracket to be firmly secured to the body to minimize flopping of the holster against the wearers leg, and digging of the handle into the side of the persons body.

In the operation of my improved landing net, the net is normally carried in the holster as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The holster functions to confine the frame arms I folded inwardly between the arms I4 as shown in Fig. 4, and with the net tucked in between the folded arms III. With the arms I4 thus folded inwardly, the normally curved connecting portions I5 are straightened out and placed under tension by the confinement of the frame in the holster. The tension thus developed tends to spread the arms I4 apart, thereby establishing an opening bias in the frame as confined by the holster in folded condition. If the arms I0 were detached from the arm portions I 4. the latter would, in their unstressed state, assume positions which (in a net frame omitting the hinge springs 21) would be disposed inwardly of the full line position shown in Fig. 1. In the assembled frame, however, inward movement of the arms to such unstressed positions is, in the opened net, prevented by the engagement of shoulders 43 on one of the respective arms I0 with the inner face of the other arm III at the hinge IB, as shown in Fig. 8. Consequently the arms I4 will be stressed with a closing bias which, in cooperation with the limiting action of the hinge I8 arising from such engagement of the shoulders 43 against the ajoining arm Ill, establishes tension throughout the frame, with the hinges I1 attempting to move closer to each other. The result is that projection of the frame away from the handle beyond the open position is prevented by the limiting action of hinge I8, and thus the frame is yieldingly locked in the open position.

The actions of the arms 9 in producing this closing bias arising from the stressing of the portions I5 thereof, may either be supplemented or wholly replaced by the action of the springs 21 tending to spread the arms I0 and I4 to a wider angle. With the arms I0, I4 connected together by the handle 8 and the hinge I8 respectively, the spreading action of the springs 21 will set up a closing bias tending to move the hinges I1 toward each other.

The closing bias is at a maximum value as the hinge I8, moving, from the closed to the open condition, in the direction indicated by arrow 40 in Fig. 1, passes through a dead center position in which arms I 0 are in alignment with each "other, i. e., in mutual alignment (a position just preceding the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l). This movement is assisted by the momentum of the arms I0 derived from the outward movement of said arms I0 in the direction 40 from the collapsed condition of the holstered net shown in Fig. 4. This momentum in turn is derived from the energy stored in the curved connecting portions I5 and arms I4 when stressed in wardly by the confining action of the holster. This stored energy is utilized as the arms I4 swing outwardly from the completely collapsed position to a position wherein the curvedconnecting portions I5 and arms I 4 reach their unstressed state, and is converted into kinetic energy which brings about the movement of arms I0at such velocity that the momentum of said arms carries them past their positions of mutual alignmena'bending the arms I4 outwardly beyond'their unstressed positions and thus stressing them with a closing bias. The stressing of the arms I4 and of the springs 21 and the dimensions .and relations of the arms are such that this outward stressing of the arms I4, although it gradually absorbs the momentum of the movement thereof in direction 40, never becomes sufficiently great to effect complete absorbtion of this momentum. That is to say there is a sufficient excess of momentum to carry the arms I0 through their positions of mutual alignment. This is made possible by instantaneous release of the hinges from their fully collapsed condition for complete freedom of opening movement, and this in turn is made possible by the holstering of the net with the hinges I1 at the bottom of the holster, soV that the hinges are the last parts of the net to be released from the holster and consequently the entire expanding force of the arms I4 is allowed to become operative instantaneously.

All parts of the frame are preferably finished with a rust resistant metal plating, or the material of the arms may in itself be rust resistant (e. g. stainless steel). The rivets and hinge pins may be of material such as Monel metal. The plastic material of the handle provides resistance against the action of moisture and air. The net II is preferably treated with a mildew resisting chemical. Thus, it is possible to provide a net that can be used for many years, since the construction of the hinges and arms is likewise designed for permanency.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of the 4 invention in which the stressing of the arms I4 may be varied by means of a wedge 4I interposed adjusted toward and from the handle 8 by means of an adjusting screw 42 extending through the wedge and threaded into the handle. The wedge 4I cooperates with spreading portions of the arms I4. V

I claim as my invention:

1. A self opening collapsible landing net and holster assembly comprising, in combination: a holster; a net; a handle; a pair of resilient substantially parallel shaft members projecting in spaced relation from one end of said handle; and an articulated net supporting and mouth defining frame comprising first and second pairs of arms, connecting members normally having a bend integrally uniting the arms of the first pair to the respective shaft members with said arms of the first pair normally diverging from said shaft members, lateral hinges joining the outer ends of the arms of the first pair to the arms of the secand pair, and a center trage joining the fritsv i the second pair to each other, whereby the frame may assume a collapsed position in which Vthe armsv 'of the Second pair' are folded between the arms of the rst pair Vwith the center hinge projecting toward tl'iel handle and the arms of the second pair drawn together so that all arms vare substantially parallel; the frame, in said .cole lapsed position, being received within the holster with the lateral hinges clearing each other and disposed adjacent the'b'ottorn of the holster, and the handle projecting from the holster the frame being adapted to open from said collapsed posi-- tion, in a snap-opening movement, triggered by release of said lateral hinges fromA the holster, in which opening movement" the arms of the first pair spread apart and the arms of the second pair are projected along the axis of and away from the handle, through lan ori-center position in which they are aligned with each other with the arms of the rst pair at max-imam angle of spread; and the normal angular relation between the arms of the rst pair and said shaft members being such that, at said maximum angle of spread the arms of the first pair will be subjected to` a re"- silient" closing bias resisting return of the arms of the second pair from their aforesaid positions of maximum projection so as to maintain the frame in its said distended position, whereas in said collapsed position', the armsof the first` pair will be subjected to a spreading bias which in itself is operative, when" the ,frame is released from the holster, to effect theV aforesaid opening movement and projection of the arms of th'esecond pair with sufficient force to develop therein, mo- Ihentumv which is effectivel to project them through said ,on-center position, spreading' the arms' of the first pair with aV toggle action Land stressing them so as to develop said closing bias.

2. A self opening collapsible landing' n'et and holster assembly comprising, in combination: a holster; aL net; a handle; a pair of resilient substantially parallel' shaft members projecting in spaced relation from oneend ofV said handle; anarticulated net supporting and mouth deiining frame comprising' Vfirst and second pairs of substantially straight arms, connecting members normallyhaving a bend integrally unitingv the arms` of the first pair tothe respective shaft menibers with said arms of the iilrst pairfnormall'y diverging from said shaft members, lateral hinges joining the outer ends of the arms of therst pair to the'arms of the second pair, and a' center hingej'oining'thearms of the second pair to each other, whereby the frame' may assume a collapsed position in which the armsof the second pair are folded between the armsA of the first pair wththe center hinge projecting toward the handle" and the arms of the second pair drawn together so that all arms are substantially parallel; the

frame, in said collapsed position, being received within the holster with the'late'ralhinges-clearingleach other and disposed adjacent the bottom of the holster,v and the' handle projecting from the holster; the" frame' being' adapted to" open the' arms of the second pairiare projected al'n the a-X'is of and away from the handle; through an ori-center position in which they arealigned with each other with the arms of the first pair at maximiim angle of spread; and the normal guiar relation between the armsof th'e'lfirst pair and said shaft members being suchthat, at said maximum4 angle of `spread the arms of the first pair will be subjected toa resilient closingv bias resisting return of the arms of ,the second pair from their aforesaid positionsV of `riaxir'nunr projection so as to maintain the frame in itssaid distended position, whereas inr said collapsed posi-- tion, the arms of the rst pair willbe subjectedto a; spreading bias'whioh in itself is Operative,- the frame is released from the` holster,` to e et the aforesaid opening lmovement and project n ofthe arms ofY the second pair withsuiii lnt force to develop therein, momentum which isoffective to project them through saidon-center position, spreadingv the arms' ofthe first pair with a toggle actionA and stressing them sov as" to develop said closing bias. f e

3. A netA and holster assembly as defined'rin claim 2, wherein said laterali hinges project outwardly beyond said arms of the first pair to pro@- vide bearings for engaging the opposed innerwalls of the holster, the normalspacing of said shaft members being less thanthe distance b etween said opposed inner walls, whereby said bearing engagement may be the sole engagement between the frame and said opposed inner walls as the frame is withdrawn from the holster.

LA net and holster assembly as dened in claimv 2, wherein said central hinge includes means to limit hinging movement thereof in' the directionof iprojr-:otion of said arms' of thefsecond pair, whereby to determine the position of maximum projection of said center hinge away from the handle and thereby determine the'angular relation between the several arms in the open position `of the frame. f

5'. .A` net and holster assembly as dened in claim lywherein said lateral hinges includ-e spring means biasing them in the direction of relative spreading movement of the respective'armsA een; nected bythem and cooperating withs'aid closing bias in maintaining the frame in the distended position. Y A,

FREDRICK' A. MATTHEWS;

magnetrons Circo' The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Country Date* 14,803 Great Britain 1888 3,582 Great Britain 1889 186,178 Great Britain n- Sept. 28, 1922 

